Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is a vibrant, jubilant festival held around the globe. Known for its colorful parades, lively music, and cultural customs, Mardi Gras attracts millions of visitors to New Orleans as well as other cities around the world. If you’re considering 2025 as a year to be part of the fun, here’s everything you need to know about the date, history, traditions, and how to make the most of this magnificent event.
When Is Mardi Gras 2025?
The next Mardi Gras is Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Its date varies each year, though, because the holiday is connected to Easter, which is a moveable feast according to the lunar calendar. Mardi Gras, which always takes place the day before Ash Wednesday, is the traditional start of Lent in the Christian calendar. The season is normally longer, however, starting as early as January and including parades and festivities in the days leading up to the day itself.
What Is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday” in French is a tradition that dates back thousands of years. It started as a pagan holiday celebrating spring and fertility, before being appropriated by Christianity as the final day of indulgence before the Lenten fast. Today, Mardi Gras is a blend of religious and cultural customs, celebrating with parades, costumes, music and food.
Where Is Mardi Gras Celebrated?
Mardi Gras is celebrated around the world, but the favorite is in New Orleans, Louisiana. Significant Mardi Gras festivities take place in other U.S. cities including Mobile, Alabama, and Galveston, Texas. Brazil (Carnival), Italy (Carnevale) and France all have their versions of the celebration.
What Is Mardi Gras? What to Expect When Mardi Gras Is Celebrated?
Mardi Gras is about celebration, creativity, and community. Here’s what to know about the celebrations:
Parades
Plenty of parades are the lifeblood of Mardi Gras. In New Orleans, there are dozens of parades made by groups called “krewes.” Each krewe has its floats, costumes, and themes. The parades feature elaborate floats, marching bands, and dancers, with Krewe members tossing beads, toys, and other trinkets at the crowd.
Costumes and Masks
For this reason, dressing up is a big part of Mardi Gras. Partiers wear colorful clothes and masks and other accouterments to join in the fun. Masks are vitally important because they enable people to loosen and party with impunity.
Music and Dancing
There’s Mardi Gras music everywhere. From the jazz bands to the brass bands, the streets are filled with music that gets everyone on their feet. Second-line parades, where you trail behind a brass band as it winds its way through the streets, are a uniquely joyous tradition.
King Cake
No Louisiana-style Mardi Gras celebration is complete without King Cake, a round, sweet pastry, frosted in the traditional purple, green and gold colors of the fiesta. Sorry, but there’s a small plastic baby hidden inside the cake, and whoever finds it is considered to have good luck and is often responsible for organizing the next party.
Beads and Throws
One of the most famous aspects of Mardi Gras is the tradition of throwing beads, cups, and other trinkets to people in the crowd from parade floats. People catching these items can make it a fun, competitive part of the celebration.
How to Enjoy Mardi Gras In 2025
But if you are going to Mardi Gras in 2025, here’s how to get the most out of it:
Plan Ahead
Mardi Gras is a huge event, and hotels in New Orleans book out well in advance. Book hotels and Airbnb way ahead of time. Also, check the parade review routes and determine which to see.
Dress Comfortably
So wear comfortable clothes and shoes because you will be walking and/or standing for a while. Make sure you have a bag or backpack that can hold all of the beads and throws that you’ll collect.
Stay Safe
And since Mardi Gras can be extremely crowded, you’ll need to be protective of your personal effects and keep your wits. Stay close with your group, and have an agreed-upon rendezvous point in case you become separated.
Respect the Traditions
Mardi Gras is steeped in cultural continuities. Be respectful of the traditions and those who help create happiness around the occasion. If you’re going to a parade, don’t cross the barricades or block the floats.”
Try the Local Food
New Orleans is famous for its delicious cuisine, beyond King Cake. Don’t forget gumbo, jambalaya, beignets, and other regional fare.
Why Is Mardi Gras So Popular?
Mardi Gras is not just a party — it’s life, culture, and community. It brings together people from all backgrounds to exchange music, food, and creativity. It’s the celebration of the uniqueness that is New Orleans and New Orleans culture — its food and music and the people coming together in this beautiful tradition that has its roots in the very history of New Orleans.”
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a newbie or a well-heeled Mardi Gras veteran, there’s always something new to discover and enjoy. So mark March 4, 2025, and start planning your visit to one of the world’s great festivals.
